Horseback Riding & Geothermal Pool | Day Tour

Spend a relaxing day in the countryside where you ride an Icelandic horse through the stunning nature in the morning, and soak in the warm waters of Hveragerði’s geothermal pool in the afternoon. Those who wish to immerse themselves in Icelandic traditions and culture should not miss this tour.

For centuries, the Icelandic horse has been vital to this nation’s survival. It was the only mean of transport as its small and sturdy stature could easily traverse the harsh volcanic environment. On this tour, you’ll get to follow in the footsteps of ancient ancestors and travel around the countryside on the back of this loyal servant and friend.

You’ll be picked up in Reykjavík in the morning and driven south to the stables, just outside the town of Hveragerði. There, you’ll meet your horse which will be carefully selected based on your riding experience. The Icelandic horse is very friendly and gentle, and so this tour is perfect for both beginners and expert riders alike.

You’ll spend around 2.5-3 hours in the saddle, riding through the farm’s surrounding area, through both dark lava fields and green meadows. You’ll then make your way to the local hotel where a light lunch will be waiting for you.

After a fun-filled ride and lunch, you will be taken to Hveragerði’s excellent swimming pool where you can uphold another time-honoured Icelandic tradition, relaxing in a hot tub. The warm geothermal water of the tubs is perfect to soothe aching muscles after a day in the saddle. You can also swim a few laps if you are still feeling energetic or try out the sauna.

Before you head back to Reykjavík, you will stop again at the stables to say goodbye to the horses and get some hot coffee and home-made cake from your guides.

Book this tour and spend the day like a true Icelander. Check availability by choosing a date.

Quick facts

Tour information:

Available: All year

Duration:
9 hours

Activities:
Horse Riding

Difficulty:
Easy

Minimum age:
7 years.

Languages:
English

Highlights:

South Iceland is the most popular part of the country amongst travellers and contains some of Iceland’s most beautiful natural attractions.

The south of Iceland can be roughly split into two areas, the lowlands in the west, and the east.

The South Icelandic lowlands

The South Icelandic lowlands stretch nearly 100 kilometres (over sixty miles) from Hellisheiði in the west to Eyjafjallajökull in the east. This region is flat and fertile farming land, and home to many Icelandic horses and sheep.

The whole area is geologically very young, formed during the last Ice Age by the lava flows from numerous volcanoes in the area. The lowlands are surrounded by volcanically active mountains, notably the aforementioned Eyjafjallajökull and Hekla.

The most notable features of the South Icelandic lowlands are the three on the Golden Circle, the country’s most popular sightseeing route.

The fissures and lava landscapes of this latter feature reveal the extent to which earthquakes and eruptions have shaped the region. The area is still very active; take, for example, the 1975 eruption in the Westman Islands that nearly destroyed the town and formed a new island.

It should be noted that Þingvellir is not just a site of natural, geological wonder. It was also the original site of the parliament Icelanders formed in 930 AD. This was a convenient place, considering the fertile lands of south Iceland meant that many settlers populated it.

Unlike most early Icelandic settlements, few of the communities formed in the south were based off fishing. The only town with a significant harbour in the south is Þorlákshöfn, where the ferry to the Westman Islands leaves.

In terms of culture in the lowlands, it was once home to the ancient bishop seat of Skálholt. Also, Iceland's most famous saga, Njal's Saga, takes place in the region.

For sports, horse riding is popular, as is fishing for salmon and trout, hiking, snorkelling, sightseeing and river rafting.

Eastern South Iceland.

The areas south and east of Mýrdalsjökull, the glacier that covers the volcano Katla, are considered the eastern part of south Iceland. Glaciers, volcanoes and the Highlands dominate the view.

This landscape has also been shaped by volcanic eruptions, although these were much more recent, and thus the area looks dramatically different. Vast expanses of black sand stretch from the Highlands to the sea, part of several glacial outwash plains that flood during a volcanic eruption.

Some agriculture is found here, with farms nestled in the mountains, but because of the glacial floods, they are few and far between.

A few large glacial rivers flow through this area, creating incredible features such as Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. These are hardly the only sites in this part of the south worth seeing, however.

Sólheimajokull is a beautiful outlet glacier, a tongue of the greater Mýrdalsjökull, that you can hike on so long as you are with a guide. Skógar has a very interesting museum that discusses national traditions during Iceland’s development. One of Iceland’s most famous hiking routes, Fímmvörðuháls, cuts through the area.

Southwest of the village of Vík is one of Iceland’s most spectacular beaches, Reynisfjara. Near the promontory of Dýrholaey, and boasting incredible views of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, it is a marvellous stretch of black sand.

Hveragerði is a town and municipality in the southwest of Iceland. It is often nicknamed ‘the Earthquake Town’ or ‘the Hot Spring Town’, due to the active geological and geothermal forces that define it.

Hveragerði town and services

Hveragerði is around 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the capital Reykjavík, and takes half an hour to drive to along the Ring Road travelling south. Around 2,300 people live in Hveragerði, most employed in tourism, horticulture or agriculture.

There is a service centre in the town with shops, including an alcohol shop, a supermarket, a gas station, an information point, and a cafe. There are several restaurants as well, and just outside it is a popular horse farm.

There are nice botanical areas and parks in the town, many recreational activities are available. There are excellent hiking trails as well as nice hotels and a camping ground which is open in the summer months.

In terms of culture, a number of museums can be found in Hveragerði, such as the Árnesingar art museum. The town hosts an annual culture and family festival in August.

Geography of Hveragerði

Hveragerði sits on a highly geothermal area. Boiling water runs just beneath the surface of the ground, leading to many hot springs in the nearby hills. This is both a blessing for the town and a curse.

In terms of a blessing, it allows greenhouses to flourish, as they can be provided with heat throughout the year. Hveragerði is thus the world’s northernmost producer of bananas, which are grown alongside a host of other fruits and vegetables.

Many flowers and herbs are also grown here, and it is considered the centre of botany in Iceland.

The boiling water also allows food to be cooked simply by burying it for a few hours, providing the restaurants with unique menus. It also brings the area a wealth of tourism.

The curse of this geothermal water is the effect it has on the residents. Stories of hot springs opening overnight in people’s kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms are very common.

Also, due to the Mid-Atlantic rift running through Iceland, many earthquakes hit Hveragerði. Fortunately, the houses are built here to withstand tremors, due to how common they are, but there is a lingering knowledge that a powerful earthquake or eruption could cause serious, perhaps irreparable damage to the settlement.

The river Varmá runs from the valley of Reykjadalur through the town. This region, which translates to the Steam Valley, is an incredibly popular place for hot spring bathing and hiking.

A gravel road that leads from Hveragerði takes you to the base of the hiking trail, which, for forty five minutes, winds up, down and around beautiful, scenic hills dotted with fumaroles and mud pits.

It ends by a river that is fed by hot springs, meaning it is heated from the top, allowing visitors to choose the perfect place to bathe. There are no indoor changing areas, but screens to undress behind.

From the horse farm outside the city, tours allow you to ride to the springs instead of walk.

Please be at your pickup location in time for your departure. Should your pickup location be at a bus stop and you need assistance finding it, seek guidance in your Hotel's reception or contact your tour provider directly.

Included:

2.5-3 hours on horseback

Lunch

Helmet

Rain gear or warm overalls

Transfer to and from Reykjavík

What to bring:

Sturdy shoes

Gloves

Swimsuit and towel

Good to know:

This tour is suited for inexperienced and for experienced riders, we select horses according to riding skills and every participant gets to try "tölt", the special smooth gait of the Icelandic horse.

Reviews

You Jin

My family booked this tour which pick up starts at 8am, so we were at the bus stop 7:50 but the driver misunderstood my name and said my name is not on the pick up list. Basically you couldnt take the bus even though we were there and paid 318euro for nothing. We were connected to Eldhester company and they refused to give me refund and now they are starting to ignore my emails. We had plenty of tour but only this company caused a problem.
It was really disappointing experience

Michelle Post

This was a fantastic tour! We had a wonderful guide who thoughtfully helped our 8 year old during the ride so that she felt safe and comfortable. The horses were easy enough to ride for beginners and we got to see the beautiful countryside. The ride was followed by a light lunch and a trip to the local pool for a nice soak. We ended the tour with a slice of cake & coffee/tea/hot chocolate. Pick up and drop off were super smooth and allowed us a little nap on the way home!

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